2026 Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 152 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Pittsburg State University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Set in Pittsburg, KS, Pittsburg State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400, with out-of-state students paying around $19,744. Typical Parks Recreation Leisure Studies student debt is $19,661. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $50,579. That is a strong return on a $19,661 median debt. About 89% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Pittsburg State University profile
Out of the 152 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #2 spot. Located in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. The median Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program debt is $20,031. Texas A And M University College Station alumni report median earnings of $72,097 a decade after entry. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Arizona University earned it the #3 place in the United States. This public school is set in Flagstaff, AZ. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,384. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants. More on Northern Arizona University
Out of the 152 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Alaska Pacific University landed the #4 spot. Read more about Alaska Pacific University
A rank of #5 makes Georgia College And State University one of the best values in the United States. More on Georgia College And State University
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Simpson University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Simpson University
Gwinnett Technical College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Gwinnett Technical College
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. More on Olivet Nazarene University
East Carolina University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. See the full East Carolina University profile
Springfield College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Springfield College
Concordia University Wisconsin offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Concordia University Wisconsin report
Frostburg State University placed #13 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Frostburg State University report
Southern Oregon University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Southern Oregon University profile
University Of Iowa placed #15 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Iowa
Palomar College
Palomar College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Palomar College
University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Kearney
California State University East Bay placed #18 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on California State University East Bay
Diablo Valley College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Diablo Valley College
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Minnesota Duluth profile
Mohawk Valley Community College placed #21 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Mohawk Valley Community College
Black Hills State University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. More on Black Hills State University
Mars Hill College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about Mars Hill College
Eastern Washington University landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Eastern Washington University report
Newberry College
Newberry College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. See the full Newberry College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Tompkins Cortland Community College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Tompkins Cortland Community College
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Toledo offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. More on University Of Toledo
Bethune Cookman University placed #29 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. See the full Bethune Cookman University profile
California State University Chico placed #30 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on California State University Chico
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #31 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. More on University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Allan Hancock College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. More on Allan Hancock College
American River College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on American River College
Jacksonville State University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about Jacksonville State University
Messiah College
Messiah College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about Messiah College
East Mississippi Community College placed #36 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Get the full East Mississippi Community College report
Baker University
Baker University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Baker University report
Catawba College
Catawba College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Catawba College report
Cuny Lehman College placed #39 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cuny Lehman College
Ohio University Eastern Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Ohio University Eastern Campus report
Western State College Of Colorado ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read the full report on Western State College Of Colorado
Southern Utah University placed #42 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Southern Utah University
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Central Oklahoma report
Northeast Community College placed #44 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. See the full Northeast Community College profile
Central State University offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. More on Central State University
South Georgia Technical College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read more about South Georgia Technical College
University Of Maine placed #47 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Maine
Montana State University Billings placed #48 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Montana State University Billings report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Suny College At Plattsburgh landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Suny College At Plattsburgh
Related Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 152 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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